Fur better or fur worse

Regarding “Hitting below the pelt,” [News, Nov. 25]: This letter goes out to all the fur hags out there. Why would you want to wear the fur and skin ripped off of an innocent animal that lived in horrific conditions? First of all, it makes you look like road kill. Secondly, it’s sickeningly cruel.

According to Statistics Canada, more than two million animals are killed each year by the Canadian fur industry. This figure does not take into account the estimated nine million “trash” animals, including dogs, cats, birds and even endangered species, that are caught in the traps each year and then discarded because they have no economic value.

One million of these animals are factory farmed under horrific conditions. They’re kept in tiny, filthy cages, and are denied the most basic of care. These animals are killed by anal electrocution, gassing, neck-breaking and lethal injection.

The other million are caught in cruel traps, including the leg-hold traps, conibear traps, snares and the drowning trap. These animals are left, often for hours or days, with no food, water or shelter, in extreme temperatures. One in four animals will chew off their own limbs to escape, and will go on to die of gangrene or other secondary infections. When the trapper finally comes to collect the animals, they stomp or beat them to death to avoid damaging the pelt.

The fur industry would like us to believe that fur is once again fashionable. But the reality is that the only way they can convince people to wear their product is by disguising its bloody origins. And no matter how much they shave it, dye it or weave it, fur is still the product of a tortured and slaughtered animal.

To sell this cruel product, the heavily subsidized Fur Council of Canada uses taxpayers’ dollars to present misleading arguments. Please rethink wearing dead animals.

» Lucas Solowey

I was shocked to read ‘‘Hitting Below the Pelt.” I come from a remote region, and I always find it really disturbing to see how urban people are so often disconnected from reality.

I can’t believe that in 2004, we’re still giving space in the media to activists opposed to the use of animals for food, clothing and medical research. When will we take care of humans first?

And can someone explain to me what ‘‘riding your bike instead of your car’’ has to do with wearing fur or eating meat? Fur is a natural, very durable and biodegradable product. It has always been the most ecological choice.

These activists should take a few ecology classes or come with me on a trip to my hometown. If they feel like helping society, how about helping children stuck in wars.

» J. Filion

Fringe fires back

Those fine people at the infringement festival claim in their letter of Nov. 25th [“Infringement heads up] that certain shows “fall outside Fringe guidelines.” I was hoping that they would fill me in as to what constitutes “a Fringe guideline.”

For 15 years the Montreal Fringe Festival has accepted shows, either first-come, first-served, or by lottery, in order to make participation equitable. There have never been any restrictions on content or quality. To claim otherwise would be a lie.

The Fringe festival is no place for narrow-minded, lie-spreading bullies, but if they applied they would still have the same chance as anyone else. They may feel more at home joining the Republican Party, though, where they will never again need to let the truth get in the way of a good crusade.

» Jeremy Hechtman, Montreal Fringe Festival

Talking to Quebecers

Like Rovy P. [“Quebec snubs and sneers,” Letters, Nov. 25], I also came to Quebec from B.C. and have lived here for many years (Montreal and Quebec City). In defence of the Québécois, I have found that my only problem learning French was me. I found myself speaking English 99 per cent of the time because I was better understood. Quebec is more exposed to our language so most understand and speak it. I also found that the people of Quebec will try your language whether they know it or not, and when they laugh or make fun, it’s just in jest. I’m sure at one time or another everyone’s laughed a French person trying to speak English.

It was only after I started working with people who don’t speak or understand English that I started to learn French. I’m left to believe that if people really treat you that badly, you’ve simply met a few bad seeds. I had the chance to meet people who treat me the way that Rovy P. has been treated, but that’s a small majority; most are very good with helping you learn and can give good advice on accents. I hope he doesn’t decide to give up. My advice is to find a roommate who doesn’t speak English, or talk to kids—they really don’t care where you’re from.

» Jeff

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